Smoky Lake County is located just over an hour’s drive (or a two-day canoe ride along the North Saskatchewan River) northeast from Edmonton. This region has long been a gathering place where that Indigenous peoples have called home since time immemorial. More recently, the first European, Ukrainian, and others arrived and chose to establish their settlements here. Today, Smoky Lake County continues to partner and work to share these rich oral, musical, cultural, and culinary stories with residents and visitors. The county’s communities feature great opportunities for affordable country living, recreation, agriculture, and development.
Bilingualism in the County of Smoky Lake
Although French is not as present in the county in present days, the County’s history is filled with Indigenous, Métis and French cultural heritage. The County understands the importance of francophone culture in the development of the county and supports bilingualism as an economic driver to economic growth in the region. Parts of the County’s website is French and the local government makes huge effort to serve the bilingual population of the region.